Region / Authority |
Leash Rule |
Off-Leash Allowed? |
Notes and Seasonal Rules |
---|---|---|---|
City of Victoria (CRD)
|
On leash at all times
|
Only in 15 designated off-leash parks (with posted hours)
|
Most parks are on-leash. Beacon Hill Park’s dog park (Dallas Rd) is off-leash south of Dallas Rd. Dog owners must clean up waste.
|
Capital Regional District (CRD)
|
On leash on trails and in parks; pay attention to signage.
|
Off-leash only where explicitly allowed (e.g. some trails)
|
Seasonal beach/picnic ban: No dogs (even on leash) in designated beach/picnic areas June 1–Sept 15 (except on-leash walk-through).
|
District of Saanich
|
On leash except in authorized off-leash zones.
|
Off-leash in specified parks (under new bylaws).
|
Island View Beach (Central Saanich) requires dogs leashed at all times on beach from June 1–Sept 15. PKOLS (Mount Douglas) allows off-leash beach except May–Aug (9am). Saanich’s new bylaw limits off-leash areas (education phase in 2024).
|
Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN)
|
Dogs must be under control (on or off leash)
|
Many official off-leash parks/trails (see below)
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RDN does not universally require leashes, but in RDN parks with posted signs dogs must be on leash. Dog licences are required in several electoral areas (Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum, etc.).
|
City of Nanaimo
|
On leash unless in off-leash zones.
|
12 off-leash dog parks and trails year-round.
|
Off-leash dog parks have waste bag dispensers and bins. Even in off-leash parks, owners must “pick up after your dog and dispose [the bags] in a designated garbage bin”.
|
District of Oak Bay / Sooke / others
|
On leash on public trails and beaches (generally)
|
Select off-leash parks (check local maps)
|
Many municipalities mirror CRD rules. For example, Oak Bay restricts off-leash beaches to protect wildlife. Always check local signage.
|
Provincial Parks (BC Parks)
|
On leash (≤2 m) in all parks unless otherwise noted.
|
Off-leash only in explicitly designated areas (rare)
|
BC Parks strongly advises leashing: “Leashing your dog keeps you, them, and other wildlife safe”. Dogs are not allowed in playgrounds or buildings. French Beach and similar parks ban dogs on beaches even on-leash. Always obey park-specific rules (e.g
|
Pacific Rim National Park (Parks Canada)
|
On leash in Long Beach area (all trails, beach, and water).
|
No off-leash areas for pets in the park.
|
Combers Beach (Long Beach Unit): Closed to all dogs April 1–Oct 1 (except service animals). West Coast Trail and Broken Group Islands: No dogs allowed. Illegal to let dogs chase wildlife (protected under Wildlife Act). Enforcement and fines apply.
|
BC Ferries
|
On-board (vehicle/passenger decks) outside pet areas: Dog must stay in vehicle or in pet area on leash.
|
N/A (pets are not free-roaming on board)
|
BC Ferries provides pet areas with water, waste bags, and bins. Dogs on upper deck must be leashed with a max 1 m lead. Owners must clean up waste on board. Pets are not permitted in interior cabins or common areas.
|
Park / Area |
Location |
Off-Leash Allowed? |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Beacon Hill Park (Dog Bowl Area)
|
Victoria (CRD)
|
Yes – fenced off-leash section
|
South of Dallas Road, Victoria. Seasonal hours apply. Other areas of park are on-leash.
|
Dallas Road Waterfront
|
Victoria (CRD)
|
Partial – leash required on main path
|
Off-leash zone between multi-use path and beach; south of the path is on-leash due to federal bird sanctuary rules.
|
Macaulay Point Park
|
Victoria (CRD)
|
Yes – designated off-leash zone
|
Fenced dog park at 1050 Esquimalt Rd. Leash law applies outside fenced area.
|
Beban Park Dog Off-Leash
|
Nanaimo
|
Yes – fenced large/small dog areas
|
2300 Bowen Rd. Two fenced fields. Water bowls and bags provided.
|
Cable Bay Trail
|
Nanaimo
|
Yes – off-leash trail (keep under voice control)
|
Follows creek to ocean. Not fully fenced. Dogs should be obedient.
|
Diver Lake Park (Dog Field)
|
Nanaimo
|
Yes – year-round off-leash field
|
2430 Black Franks Dr. Large grassy area next to parking lot for off-leash play.
|
Wardropper Park (Dog Field)
|
Nanaimo
|
Yes – fenced off-leash grassy area
|
2957 Departure Bay Rd. Fully fenced.
|
Qualicum Beach Community Park
|
Parksville/Qualicum
|
Yes – off-leash trails and fenced park
|
Trails and a fenced dog park behind Civic Centre. On-leash elsewhere in town.
|
Qualicum Beach Dog Park
|
Qualicum Beach
|
Yes – fenced off-leash dog park
|
Off Garden Rd E by airport. See town site for map.
|
Island View Beach
|
Central Saanich (CRD)
|
No – on-leash only (seasonal beach zone)
|
Beach passes through migratory bird sanctuary. Dogs must be leashed June 1–Sept 15.
|
PKOLS (Mt. Douglas) Beach
|
Saanich (CRD)
|
Partial – leash-optional after 9am
|
Beach off-leash only outside May–Aug 9am (no dogs on beach in summer mornings).
|
Island View Beach
|
Central Saanich (CRD)
|
No (leash required passing through summer)
|
Same as above (included for clarity).
|
Seal Bay Regional Park
|
Courtenay
|
Yes – off-leash trails (Jul–Mar)
|
Off-leash allowed in designated areas July 1 – March 31. No dogs Apr–June for nesting birds.
|
Willow Point Park (Dog Agility Park)
|
Campbell River
|
Yes – fenced off-leash dog park
|
1800 S Alder St. Fully fenced agility park for socialization and training.
|
Morning Beach Park
|
Denman Island (Ferry)
|
No – on-leash only
|
Sand quarry beach with trail. Hornby Island’s Helliwell Park is similar (on-leash only).
|
French Beach Provincial Park
|
Sooke (southern VI)
|
No – dogs on leash, no dogs on beach
|
Official BC Parks site forbids dogs in beach areas. (Camping available; bring baggies.)
|
Pacific Rim (Long Beach Unit)
|
West Coast (Parks Canada)
|
No – on-leash in all areas
|
Dogs allowed on-leash on Long Beach, but Combers Beach closed Apr 1–Oct 1. Pets banned on West Coast Trail.
|
Local Dog-friendly Hotels & Cafés
|
All regions
|
N/A
|
Many businesses in Victoria, Nanaimo, Parksville, Tofino, etc., welcome well-behaved dogs on patios or in rooms. (Always confirm when booking.)
|